Outcome and complications of bronchial artery embolisation for life-threatening haemoptysis.
BACKGROUND
Bronchial artery embolisation (BAE) has been established as an effective technique in the emergency treatment of life-threatening haemoptysis. However, few data concerning outcome are available.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the short-term and long-term results of BAE in patients treated for life-threatening haemoptysis.


METHODS
A retrospective analysis of eight patients with life-threatening haemoptysis treated with BAE.


RESULTS
BAE resulted in an immediate cessation of haemoptysis in 7 (88%) patients. Long-term control of bleeding was achieved in five of these patients. Rebleeding occurred within 24 h in one patient, and two patients had recurrence of haemoptysis at 6 months and 1 year, respectively. In these three patients, repeat embolisation succeeded in the immediate control of haemoptysis, and no rebleeding was reported at 1-year follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
BAE is an effective procedure with which to stabilize patients with massive haemoptysis in the acute phase, and to definitively treat some patients in the longer term.
Slattery
M M
MM
Department of Radiology, Beaumont Hospital, Beaumont Road, Dublin 9, Ireland. mlslattery@hotmail.com
Keeling
A N
AN
Lee
M J
MJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000792:Angiography / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001981:Bronchial Arteries; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery; D006469:Hemoptysis / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult